The Potter and the clay

The Potter and the Clay

Romans 9:21 (KJV)
Hath not the potter power over the clay…

This week I will endeavor to share with you a little story about the potter and the clay. Many times in scriptures we can see that we are as clay, the Lord is the Potter. In many of our countries there are people (potters) that make clay pots or containers.

One of the first things that takes place in the work area of the potter is that he takes a lump of clay and places it in the middle of the potters wheel. The clay at this stage does not look very attractive, as it is only a lump of earth colored substance. Clay at this stage is in a very workable state. It must be placed in the very center of the wheel or it cannot be worked on at all.
Mankind must be willing to both be pliable and workable, and must be willing to be centered and be in proper sync with the Lord. Picture Christ as the center point of the wheel. We must be focused and centered on Christ Jesus (die to self) before the Lord, the Great Potter can work on us.

As the potters’ wheel starts to turn, the potter takes water, and sprinkles it onto the clay while forming the clay with his own hands. We know water is pictured as the Word in scriptures. The word (water) is applied to the lump of clay (mankind) as the Potter (the Lord) molds it. That useless lump soon starts to take shape. The lump grows up from the gentle work of the hands of the potter. Mankind, when worked on by the Lord, will also grow and be shaped as He sees fit.

Notice this: If the potter finds a rock, of foreign object in the clay as he is molding it, he must stop the wheel. He then takes the partially formed project, finds that object that is ruining the soon to be pot. The potter then has to take the partially formed pot, break it down, take out the foreign rock or object, pound it back into a lump and start all over. Notice that the Potter does not discard the clay, he just takes out the bad part, and starts over. This is how the Great Potter, or Lord, deals with mankind. Have you ever had to be worked on by our Lord? Is he still working on you today? Do you have a sin that needs to be plucked out so the Lord can continue working with you? Sin is a problem and must be plucked out. Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Be uplifted, he will not toss you aside, He will keep molding and working on you. Isaiah 42:3 (KJV)
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

Do not be disheartened. Continue on!

Philip. 1:6 (KJV)
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Our Lord loves us and will keep working on us. Let us be centered and pliable in His hands.

Now the Potter keeps working on the clay. Again He builds up that lump, He keeps working on it until he forms it into a perfect pot. Is the pot now ready for use? It is in the proper shape; it looks like a pot, but is it ready? No, it is not, it must be tried by fire before it is finished, if not it will fall apart very quickly. 1 Cor. 3:13 (KJV)
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

Do you feel like you have been or are being tried by fire? This is what has to be done according to scripture to make us ready for full service. This needs be done to make us a complete tool for work in His Kingdom. Do not become discouraged, but rather rejoice as these scriptures instruct: 1 Peter 4:13 (KJV)
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 1:6 (KJV)
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Am I willing to be worked on by the Great Potter, our Lord? I am willing to have Jesus Christ be the center of my universe, to be my all in all? Oh that God would give each of us the Grace to always remember that we are the Clay and He is the potter!

Our Lord loves us so much. We know that the potters here on earth would not want anyone to destroy the pots they have made. After all, they have spent hours working on it. So very much more, our Lord does not want us to be destroyed or lost. He created us in His own image. He sent His only Son to die for us. He bought us back, He has Redeemed us! The Lord surely does not want to lose us: Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
…..for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

When the potter has finished the project, after it has been tried by fire, it is ready now for use in hauling water, or being able to be used to hold other precious substances. Are we ready for use in His Kingdom? When we are, we will be found holding the most precious substance of all, Faith given to us by and through the Redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ! All Glory goes to God for both the substance placed in the Heart of His believers, and for the creating, molding, and making our entire beings. Be as in Romans 4:20 (KJV)
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

All Glory to God! Halleluiah, Amen